Author/illustrator, child development specialist/educator, Diane provides insight into the world of children's literature through several different perspectives. The goal is to provide high quality literature for children, parents and teachers.

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March 7, 2016

Whose Hands Are These? A Community Helper Guessing Book by Miranda Paul

I have learned that being
a Facebook friend is a great way to connect with other authors and
illustrators, and be introduced to new books. Learning about new releases
not only helps me improve my own writing but it helps add to my school
counseling library with literature for lessons in the classroom or sharing individually
with students, teachers, counseling colleagues, librarians, and parents.

Whose Hands Are These? A Community
Helper Guessing Book by Miranda Paul

Recently a new book arrived
in my mailbox, I remembered posting a comment on Miranda Paul's timeline
mentioning that I would help support her with the release of her book, WHOSE
HANDS ARE THESE? I offered for several reasons. First, I am always looking for something fresh on the topic of careers for use
with early elementary school children. Second, hands, especially helpful hands,
are always a relevant theme used in school.We constantly communicate with our words and our body
language.Hands express emotion
and intention whether we are aware or not. I am excited to say Miranda chose me
to help get the word out about her new book!

WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE? A
COMMUNITY HELPER GUESSING BOOK by award wining author Miranda Paul, illustrated
by Luciana Navarro Powell is a 32 page, rhyming picture book, guessing game.
Eleven careers that help other people in a variety of ways leads the reader
through page turn after page turn guessing and revealing the community helper
by clues found in the snappy rhyming
text and the mixed-media illustrations featuring hand-focused spot
illustrations and single page answers. Paul's choice of helpers is chocked with
variety including some everyday choices of elementary age children sprinkled
with less typical jobs making the guessing interesting and fun. The last four
pages include information on the specific helpers.

The diversity of race and
gender depicted in the book add to the richness depicted giving the reader a broader, real world vision when looking at helpers in our community as
well as possible career choices. Diversity, playful rhyme, and dynamic layout
engage the reader on a fun, fast paced exploration that is sure to get children
excited with possibilities. This book is sure to delight classroom teachers,
librarians, parents, and of course elementary school counselors!

I give WHOSE HANDS ARE
THESE?five apples, cream of the
crop.This book is unique, fast
paced and fun.It is clear that
careful thought was put into creating a diverse, high interest book that
invites the reader to explore.

This book is a great match
for girls and boys, and crosses all cultures. It's appropriate for ages
4-9.

Miranda Paul is an award-winning
children’s book author. Besides writing, her hands are good at cooking, playing
games, and tickling kids. She lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband
and two children. Find out more at www.mirandapaul.com.

WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE? can be ordered
at your local independent bookseller, and online.

8 comments:

I agree. Great for preschool and early elementary teachers. Diversity across the spectrum of race, gender and socioeconomic status. Rhyme and page turns work perfectly together. Illustrations are richly detailed. I especially like the subtitle: "A Community Helper Guessing Book." it's not about having a job. It's about how you contribute to your community. That's my take-away from this book.

Thank you everyone who took the time to comment. I am very excited as we, school counselors are responsible for introducing the concept of career to students as early as kindergarten. This book is perfect! I love that it also has potter and mechanic as community helpers!